End times and antichrist

The internet is a perfect breeding ground for certain dialogue including interpreting prophecies about the end of the world, according to Robert Glenn Howard , Associate Professor of Religious Studies at UW-Madison.

Some have even speculated President-elect Barack Obama is the antichrist. The antichrist is, by biblical tradition, an evil world leader who will attempt to take the place of Jesus as the messiah. Obama is on a long line of leaders who've been accused of being that. Others on the list have included several former Presidents and the Pope.

Howard says people that subscribe to these ideas believe are often flexible in their approach and may believe, 'We don't know for sure but maybe it (the Antichrist) is Obama. Let's watch what he does and see. '

Believers may become "very focused" on the end times narrative and easily find other to communicate with online who share those beliefs, he says. But according to the Bible, Howard says no human can predict exactly when the end will be.